SPLOST Forums

There’s much debate about the proposed new transportation tax that Georgians will vote on July 31st. According to the Chamber of Commerce, this regional tax will create more than $15,000 jobs, will have a $500 million economic impact on Southwest Georgia, and If it passes, the revenue generated in our area is targeted for transportation projects in southwest Georgia.

To ensure that you make an educated vote, regardless of how you vote, there are three upcoming forums that will be helpful as you make your decision. These forums are being hosted by State Rep. Winfred Dukes, County Commissioner Gloria Gaines, and County Commissioner John Hayes and will take place at 6:30pm at the following locations:

JUNE 21 at MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

901 WESTOVER BLVD

JUNE 25 at RHEMA WORD CATHEDRAL

610 W OGLETHORPE BLVD

JULY 12 at GREATER 2nd MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

302 ADKINS STREET

Again, the vote takes place July 31st. Be informed. Be educated. Take advantage of these forums to get information that you need before you cast your vote.

HELP THE COPS

Hundreds of people showed up at Albany’s Tift Park Saturday to get to know their neighbors and their police officers better. Albany Police sponsored A Day with a Cop to build better community relations, hoping that will lead to a safer city.

Investigators often tell us how much they need your help to put criminals behind bars. When people know something about a crime and don’t speak up, those criminals stay on the streets and almost certainly will victimize someone else.

When people do speak up and tell officers what they know, the chances of solving a crime skyrocket. One recent example is the burglary at the pawn shop owned by American Idol winner Phillip Phillips’ family.

The crooks stole numerous guns. Imagine the danger to our whole community, to your family, if those guns had been sold to gangs or other criminals. But tipsters told investigators what they knew. Police raided homes, recovered the guns, and arrested the suspects.

That kind of communication with the cops keeps us all safer. Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you see something, say something. In Dougherty County, you can call crime stoppers at 436-tips and remain anonymous. It’s the right thing to do, and it could keep your family from becoming a victim of crime.

I attended one of those forums on the T-Splost to get more information. What I learned is that the politicians running the forums are against the splost and their reasoning is racially motivated. Why does everything in Albany have to come down to race?